Happy Halloween: Winners, Winners Everywhere

First of all, Happy Halloween everyone!

Now onto the lots and lots of winners to announce. If I a miss any contests, sorry.

Authors if I didn't list your contest here, I wasn't sure if you had chosen a winner or if you would like to do it yourself or wanted me to. Contact me and we'll get that taken care of.

So....here are some of the winners of my contests from my tour

RKCharron was the VampChix winner of a pdf of Eternal Desire

J. Hali Steele jhalisteele.com is the winner of the first Fang-tastic Books desk set given away at Nights of Passion

Linda Henderson is the winner of a pdf download of Eternal Desire from Reading with Bite contest

Andrea won a signed print copy of Eternal Desire from my guest blog at Something Wicked

ktshabatie won the pdf of Eternal Desire along with the Fang-tastic Books desk set however she has yet to reply, if she has not responded within the next week (by Saturday November 7th either I or Doug aka SciFiGuy will pick another winner)

and now onto the winners from the contests on this site...drumroll please....

OK my trusty winner picking hat is getting a work out today. I am using a Halloween theme hat today. A tall velvet top hat with a skull on it. I throw in all the names, shake it up and root around for a winner.

Now here's the results you've all been waiting for ....

ddurance , Karen W. , and Alicia0605 are the winners of VAMPIRES and WEREWOLVES a two book prize pack -each will receive a set

Meljprincess is the winner of Linda Wisdom's Hex in High Heels and Wicked by Any Other Name books

cait045 is the winner of Amanda Grange's Mr Darcy, Vampyre

Witchy Woman , starryann , and rubymoon are the winners of the huge Hachette Books 5 book giveaway

and duh duh da da....

Kathy is the winner of the Huge Fang-tastic Books prize pack- a totebag filled with Blood Ties DVDs and so much more.

Congrats to all an Happy, Happy Halloween.

(Top Artwork: Halloween Pin-Up Victoria by myvirtuallady Flickr Creative Commons)

By the way, I still have a free pdf of Eternal Desire up for grabs at http://www.thewriteathomemom.blogspot.com/ and a special offer for those of you who have already read Eternal Desire.

Please drop by the The Write at Home Mom.

If you become a follower of the blog I'll give extra entries for the contest. It's a new blog and doesn't have a big readership yet so I am trying to help move some traffic over there it would be great if you could all drop by and leave some comments and/or become followers or something. I'd appreciate it and so would the author.

Thanks so much.

Free Book Friday Fang-tastic Giveaway

So today I am wrapping up my virtual tour for Eternal Desire and to celebrate that and the fact that tomorrow it is Halloween I have a huge Fang-tastic Books Free Book Friday Giveaway for you today.

Everything you see above is in the prize pack: a Fang-tastic Books tote bag, Blood Ties Season One and Season 2 on DVD (thanks Eagle Rock Entertainment), a copy of The Mammoth Book of Erotic Confessions which contains two "confessions" by yours truly (it's just fiction but they sound like pretty good confessions I suppose), a copy of Blood Price by Tanya Huff (the first book in the Blood series that launched the Blood Ties TV show) and a signed copy of Eternal Desire.

Plus there are some author bookmarks and promo stuff that authors have sent my way.

So the winner will receive this whole prize pack full of goodies.

To enter leave a comment.

US residents only (sorry, shipping is way to expensive to send it elsewhere).

To get bonus entries: tweet this contest, add it to your Facebook page, post about it on your blog, include links in your comments for extra entries. You can also receive bonus entries if you are a follower of my blog

and a member of my yahoo group.

Good luck to all, this is a short contest because I'll be picking a winner Halloween morning (tomorrow) and announcing winners

for all the previous contests as well.

Guest Blog and Giveaway with Tilly Greene

Hello, my name is Tilly Greene, an erotic romance author, and Roxanne is kindly letting me play on her blog today – thank you.

Now, in case you don’t know me, let me tell you straight out: yes, I write heat, and I’m also one of those authors that won’t be relegated to a single subgenre box. And, to make it even more interesting, whether it’s a futuristic, contemporary, paranormal, or shape-shifter, my heroes are far from perfect.

Sure, they hold jobs, and are successful because of the time and effort they put into their chosen field. And yes, they’re handsome, strong, and possess interesting personality traits, but they are also very real, which means they make mistakes. Let’s look at Hamish Buchanan, the hero of Highland Heat, as an example.

On Valentine’s night, Catriona Buchanan was violently attacked, and eventually hooked up to a machine long enough to give her baby, Hamish, a fighting chance at survival. While done with the best of intentions, he must deal with the repercussions of medical advancements for the rest of his life. The physical uniqueness he is left with shapes who he becomes as a man, which is expected. However, he still makes mistakes, especially when it comes to wooing the woman who is meant for him.

Here is what happens when they first meet:

“Sir, I’m sorry to disturb you, but may I ask a favor?” The Scottish burr in her speech was toned down, but it was still there and even sexier coming through the most deliciously full red lips he’d ever seen. Porcelain-smooth white skin clung gracefully over her high cheekbones, enhancing crystal clear gray eyes.

Lust burned throughout him, even brighter than before and raged out of control when he looked at her incredible breasts. They were stunning and he knew they were natural. The woman’s cleavage was beautifully presented between two triangles of silk. He wanted to pull the scraps away and uncover the tips hidden beneath. Caught in temptation’s trap, he forced himself to look away from the dark crevice and take in the rest of her, specifically what he might discover about her body while mulling over her request.

The skirt of the dress drifted to the floor, skimming her voluptuous curves and pooling in a small puddle of green on the floor behind her. Twin straps traced from the cups up and over her shoulders until they slipped beneath the shear shawl she wore. Seductive and demur, a nice mix, he thought. Hamish suspected he would’ve fallen for the image if he hadn’t heard the earlier conversation.

In his opinion, she looked mouthwateringly perfect. Unfortunately, her search for a deep pocket left an ugly taint across the otherwise elegant and poised presence standing before him. What a disappointment.

Seeing her face-to-face and hearing her sultry voice speak to him was all it took for his rod to regain its earlier rock-hard strength. The tip pushed against the woolen fabric of his kilt. He was tempted to step forward and take what he wanted. Feeling his body ignore his brain’s warning of her ethical deficiency made him angry. Well, she was stunning, a night or two spent between her legs would be no hardship, as long as he could ignore the ugly fortune hunter issue.

“Of course.” He drawled, curious what she was after.

“The woman who just walked away would like to set me up with a man I’m not interested in. And although I’ve said no many times, she won’t listen to me. Would you mind paying attention to me long enough so she’ll leave the issue alone?”

“Are you a lesbian?”

“Excuse me?”

“Do you prefer women?”

“Why does that matter?”

“Well, I heard her say he was single and rich—”

“Sir! How rude of you to listen in on our conversation. It’s also insulting to think someone would be interesting because of his or her financial status. You’re the most offensive, oh never mind.” An adorable bright red flush spread across her cheeks as she spoke to him in anger.

It was the last thing he saw before she whirled around him and left the queue. He turned to follow her progress as she stormed past Alain. The beauty did a double take at the likeness between the two men and paused long enough for one final word.

“Your brother is an asshole. I suggest you teach him some manners before bringing him out in public again.” Chin thrust out, she emphasized the point with an emphatic nod and continued to make her way across the room. In too short a time, she’d been swallowed amidst the mass of people.

Hamish heard a little of what she’d said to his cousin, but was spellbound by how animated she’d appeared. He walked over to stand next to Alain, his eyes glued to the place where he’d last glimpsed the sexy firebrand. Privately, he hoped for another glimpse. She’d been a sight of amazing beauty and strength in a sea of mediocrity.

“What did she say to you?” he asked Alain when he came to a stop beside him, curious at the other man’s smile.

“Hmmm, let’s see. To paraphrase, you screwed up big time. There goes one beautiful woman when she’s full of fire. I think it’s safe to say you pissed her off.”

With his eyes still glued to the place where Grace disappeared into the crowd, he finally understood the restless, hunting feeling he’d been experiencing this evening. The impatient edginess reminded him there was something still waiting for him to find and secure it. And apparently his time was up. There’d be no more delays in hunting for a woman, his woman.

Unfortunately, he had a gut feeling that she’d just walked away from him.

Copyright © 2009 Tilly Greene


Aren’t flaws are fabulous? They lead to such interesting pathways and Hamish has some serious issues to work through, one of which is when to trust someone with your reality – no matter how horrific it may be.

If you have any questions or comments, ask away, there’s a Tilly Greene tote bag filled with goodies to be given away – so make sure and include your email address so I can contact you.

Highland Heat is available in paperback through Ellora’s Cave or Amazon.


About the Author

While traveling around the world with her husband, Tilly Greene researches and writes erotica and erotic romance novels in a variety of genres and sub-genres. Every day she looks forward to writing about women who are independent and confident, the men who love them, and their twisting passionate path to each other.

To get to know more about Tilly Greene and her books, visit her website [http://www.tillygreene.com/], Hot Thoughts blog [http://tillygreene.blogspot.com/],

Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/tilly.greene],

or follow her on Twitter [http://twitter.com/tillygreene].

Guest Blog and Giveaway with Cornelia Amiri

Happy Halloween. As an author of Celtic/Paranormal/Romance novels, my favorite holiday is Samhain, the Celtic festival which gives us our Halloween traditions. Samhain, pronounced SOW-uhn, is the Celtic New Year, October 31st or November 1st. Samhain falls between the old year and the new, it is a day without time. Spirits of the dead and supernatural beings easily cross into our earthly dimension on this day, since the veil between worlds is at its thinnest. The ancient Celts put food or treats out for their ancestors and celebrated this day with them.

Here are some Samhain excerpts from several of my books.

First, an excerpt from DRUID BRIDE, which will be released in 2010 from Eternal Press.

After taking a deep breath, he climbed the hill. Now that the fire was blazing, Tanwen raised her hands above her head and twirled as gray headed Lossio beat the bodhran while Tanwen chanted.

“The fire sparks. The veil parts. Spirits among us. Bones, ashes, dust are once again family and friends. Ancestors come near, feast with us here. Dance and Sing around the stone ring. Great powers abound. All hail Samhain.”

Next, a few lines from DANGER IS SWEET, published by Awe Struck E-books:

The air was filled with an exuberant din of singing, chattering, and further Samhain merriment. Her child would be born on this day, which fell betwixt the old and new year. A day without time.

Malcolm grinned at Bethoc as he carried her through the city streets. "A selkie, a Scot, a Pict, and born on Samhain; this will be a special child."

This is a quote from Sulwen in DRUID QUEST, published by Awe Struck E-books:

"Aye, but she is only in the Otherworld. You shall see her spirit at Samhain, and in the next life you will all meet again."

Here are a few lines from Samhain from VIXEN PRINCESS, published by Awe-Struck E-books:

Mabon bid his friends good eve, and with a slight stagger, walked back to his tent. Lifting the oilskin flap, he crawled inside and rolled onto his cot. Shutting his eyes, he fell into a deep, drunken sleep. Until the words, "The dead walk tonight and it is not even Samhain," sounded in his ear, along with a puff of hot breath.

Here is an excerpt from THE FOX PRINCE, published by Awe-Struck E-books:

"Lads!" Nesta clapped her hands hard. "The tarts are almost done."

"Come, get your face painted for Samhain," Aelfrida called to the boys.

Firmly, she cupped the tallest lad's chin in one hand while brushing a chunk of crumbling charcoal across his cheeks. He shut his eyes tight and she blew the excess soot away. She looked at his sooty face and clicked her tongue.

"I do not know if you are a spirit of the dead or a dirty-faced lad."

He raised his arms and curled his fingers like claws then moaned loud enough to be heard in the otherworld.

"Oh!" She laughed. "A spook you are then!"

"Paint my face," the youngest lad called as he bobbed up and down. The charcoal felt dry and powdery in her fingers as she sketched the outline of a skeleton on the little urchin face.

"You are a true haunt," she declared.

She smudged the third lad's face with black charcoal and pronounced, "The spirits are sure to think you one of them and pass you by." She stood back and grinned. They are so cute. Not a one is a terror as they are of a wont to be. "Let me paint your face, Githa," Aelfrida called to the little girl.

"Nay." She shook her head and scampered toward the wall.

Aelfrida burst out in laughter. A pounding noise sounded at her back followed by creaking and a chill gust of wind. She swiveled to her left. The door was open but no one was there. The children suddenly grew quiet. Their wide eyes fixed upon a spot to her right. Slowly, she turned.

"Boo!" Tryffin stood there with a huge grin on his soot-covered face.

Aelfrida flung her hands aside her head. "You are a sight." She dropped her shoulders and burst out in giggles.

"I am a spirit come to find a live body for Samhain." With a seductive gleam in his eyes he said, "I think I shall take yours."

Would you like to win a pdf copy of The Queen of Kings

or how about a pdf copy my funny Celtic Vampire Romance - A Fine Cauldron of Fish

or a pdf copy of Druid Quest
Just leave a comment.

Three winners will be chosen, one for each book.

Happy Samhain,

Cornelia Amiri

http://www.myspace.com/CelticRomanceQueen

http://www.eternalpress.ca/Amiri.html

Helpful Hints for Becoming a Vampire from Susan Blexrud

In my fang series, my mortal women must decide whether they are willing to sacrifice their humanity for the immortal world of the vampire men they love. Following are some hints for determining whether you, dear reader, are a candidate for immortality.

Helpful Hints for Becoming a Vampire

Assuming you've already been sucked in by the wiles of one of these undead hotties, you'll adapt more easily to your new lifestyle if you have....

1. Good dental hygiene. There’s nothing worse than an infected fang to put a damper on your fun.

2. A healthy libido. Believe me, it will kick up a notch, but having a good base is essential.

3. A sense of humor. There's a learning curve to acquiring vampire skills, and you need to be able to laugh at yourself.

4. A preference for night over day. You’ll still be able to function in the daytime, but your sensitivity to light will require UV protection for your skin and eyes. Hey, weren't you looking for an excuse to buy those new Chanel sunglasses?

5. No aversion to blood. You’ll never look at a scraped knee in the same way. So, if you’ve been a blood donor in your mortal existence, just know that a trip to the Red Cross could be more temptation than you’re able to endure.

6. A thirst for adventure. You're going to be more durable, so go ahead, rev up your immortal powers and jump off that cliff.


Susan Blexrud’s latest foray into the world of vampires is the third book in her fang series, Real Men Have Fangs, available October 29 from DCL Publications, http://www.thedarkcastlelords.com/ .

You can visit Susan at her website (http://www.susanblexrud.com/), and she welcomes your comments at her blogspot (http://susanblexrud.blogspot.com/).

And be on the lookout for Susan's print book which will contain all of the Fang series in one bound book, due out sometime in January.

Guest Blog and Giveaway with Dhampir Passions author Mary Corrales

The origins of the Dhampir are not as lost in history as we might think. The legend of Dhampirs comes from the Balkan region, originating in gypsy folklore. A Dhampir is believed to be the offspring of a vampire father and mortal woman. Dhampirs are usually hunters of vampires due to their ability to sense a vampire. As early as 1959, there were still believed to be Dhampirs working as hunters in the Balkan region.

Even among Dhampirs there are degrees of hunters. A bloodline is only as pure as the vampyr who breeds with a woman. In the case of my debut erotic novella, Dhampir Passions, my hero is a brother to Vlad Dracula. Raduslav’s life mission is based on the Draculesti Bloodstone, the Dracul family’s most prized possession which has been stolen from the grave of Radu’s father.

The belief that most Dhampirs live their lives as normal mortals, never knowing their unique abilities, is thought to be true until the Dhampir tastes blood. Due to Radu’s father being Vlad Dracul, Radu’s first taste of blood is what activates his full powers and turns him immortal.
Radu shows few emotions until meeting Linea Kamiya, a woman victimized by the bite of a master vampyr. His attraction to her endangers them both as there is nothing more enticing to a fledging such as Linea, than the alluring scent of Radu’s unique blood. Likewise her passionate needs intensify as the Harvest Moon approaches.

The air around them swirled with the charged current of his hunger.

Radu had been too long without vampyr blood. Her desire made her blood scent all the more potent to his flaring senses. One hand seized her against him while the other clutched the moonstone beneath his tunic for strength.

He had to resist her, or they most both be sorry. It was pure foolishness to feed from her with the Bloodmoon or Harvest Moon as mortals know it, so close.

His entire body shook, instinct calling out the demon within him. With fangs elongated and fingernails lengthened to lethal tips, his eyes turned a brighter blue, almost glowing.

Her hand burned a path up his chest to stroke his neck.

Dhampir Passions is my first paranormal erotic romance. Blending history, folklore, and the future; I hope readers will enjoy my take on the most rare of vampyrs.

Leave a comment with your e-mail address for a chance to win a pdf copy of Dhampir Passions.

I’ll choose the winner through a random drawing at midnight est Time on 10/26/09.

~Mary Corrales

Check out my website for more erotica reads, and what I’m currently working on. www.authormaryc.com

Vampire Poetry Monday with Sonika Edwards

Vampire:

Black winged cape descends
The Dark Incubus has come,
To feed.

Innocence of life, taken in blood,
Which sustains
his need.

Life absorbed
Into one that’s none.

Dark Dweller.
Sun Hater.
Blood Drinker.
Life Taker.
Grave Maker.

Vampire!

Fiend and foe.
But friend to those who know,
The life he can give in taking.

IMMORTALITY,
his making.

Sonika Edwards
© 2002
See Sonika's Sites @ http://VampirePhile.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/VampirePhile
http://www.facebook.com/Vampirephile

And don't forget to check out her VampirePhile blog interview with me (Roxanne Rhoads) from last Friday 23rd @ http://vampirephile.blogspot.com/2009/10/interview-with-roxanne-rhoads-author-of.html

Photos from the Flint Vampire Ball

Here's me getting ready for my signing

Me and that's author Wednesday Lee Friday off to the side

I'm sitting here while I could be partying, you better buy a book damn it!


People at the ball.

Me between two hot blonds, my husband will be fantasizing for ages over this one.

My hubby and our friend Jerry




Hubby and his friend Josh

A scene from the ball, bands Volataire, Hellblinki and Belle Morte

were selling CDs and merchandise

This is my hubby above thinking he's the vampire Hugh Hefner

Yes guys this is what you missed

Jill, Jerry and Poison Ivy




Jill and Poison Ivy



Our friends Jill and Jerry

Bellydancers and the hot blonds that had their photos taken with everyone,

that's OK because they were actually really nice




Belly Dancers




Belly dancers

The host of the evening




The host, Ilona Curry and some other chick whose name I did not catch (sorry)

A scene from the evening

A scene from the ball, people having fun

Me and the hubby having fun at the Vampire Ball


By the way thanks again to all the authors who donated books, people were thrilled to receive these as door prizes and raffle prizes. You all contributed to a worthy cause. We greatly appreciate it. Maybe next year some of you can join us at the Ball.

Sunday Musings October 25

So I am posting musings a day early because this week is a full one. Being the week of Halloween I have authors booked everyday offering giveaways.

Monday there will be a vampire poem from Sonika Edwards and a guest blog and giveaway from Mary Corrales.

Tuesday Susan Blexrud will be here chatting about her newest fangs release.

Wednesday Cornelia Amiri is joining us to talk about Samhain and offer some free books.

Thursday Tilly Greene will be our guest and offering a totebag giveaway

Friday I'll be giving away a Fang-tastic Books tote bag full of goodies including season 1 and 2 of Blood Ties on DVD.

Also this week I am continuing my Eternal Desire virtual tour.

Monday I'll be at http://www.fantasygirlreviews.blogspot.com/

Tuesday drop by my Vamp Bash giveaway at http://www.vampchix.blogspot.com/

and there will be an interview with me posted at http://www.ellzreadz.blogspot.com/ so please drop by Elie's wonderful fun site to check it out

Thursday I'll be at http://www.razloversbookblog.blogspot.com/

And all week long The Write at Home Mom will be running features, excerpts and giveaways all about me and Eternal Desire so make sure to drop by http://www.thewriteathomemom.blogspot.com/ for all kinds of fun.

I didn't post winner Wednesday this week because so many contests are still ongoing.

I'll be posting a detailed winner list on Halloween from all of the contests from the past couple of weeks. many are still open so get your entry in before it's too late.

And by the way last night's Vampire Ball was a blast, I sold 3 books even though I only signed for an hour (because I wanted to party and not sit still at the table, bad me) but all in all it was fun. I hope to do this again next year and get way more people involved.

This event was full of vampire fans. I overheard several discussions about vampires versus zombies and discussions about real vampires not sparkling while there were plenty of fans of sparkly vampires as well.

I think it was a successful event for the Flint Farmer's Market. I don't think it was a sold out show like last year (damn economy) but it was good.

I'll post some photos later.

Vertigo Theatrics will be hosting a Mardi Gras bash sometime in February so I hope to attend that as well, if not get involved somehow.

Linda Wisdom Guest Blog and Giveaway

Today we once again have the wonderful author Linda Wisdom

as a guest here at Fang-tastic Books.

About Linda:

Linda Wisdom has published more than 70 novels with 13 million copies sold worldwide including traditional, paranormal, humor, action/adventure romance, and romantic suspense. Her bestselling books have been nominated for Romantic Times awards and the Romance Writers of America Rita Award. She lives with her husband in Murrieta, California.

Her newest release is:

Hex in High Heels—in stores now!

Fourth in the popular, light paranormal romance series by an author whose books have sold 13 million copies

In this sexy, funny paranormal romance by bestselling author Linda Wisdom, it's all beautiful witch Blair Fitzpatrick can do to keep a lid on her talent for revenge spells, but things are about to get a lot more complicated...

Blair loves running her vintage shop and hanging out with witchy friends Stasi and Jazz. She's forever had a crush on hunky carpenter Jake Harrison, whose Were nature (he's a Border collie) makes him loyal, lovable, and fierce when need be. Just as sparks are beginning to fly, Blair is served with a big surprise when Jake's mother shows up along with his pack leader, who threatens to make Jake heel! When the alpha does the unthinkable, Blair is pushed over the edge. No one messes with her boyfriend-to-be, even if he does shed on the furniture!

(By the way, I think this is so awesome, one of my review quotes is on the cover of this book!)

Now onto Linda's Guest Post and Your Chance to Win a Copy of Books 3 and 4 in the series: Wicked by Any Other Name and Hex in High Heels

It’s A Magickal World

By Linda Wisdom

A mega thank you to Fang-tastic Books for having me here to talk about creating worlds.

Since rumor has it that the preternatural communities don’t really exist – although, I’m still convinced that vampires are living in Hollywood :}, I’m going to discuss the world I created for my witches. Or maybe I should call it the world they created for themselves. Because I don’t think I could have accomplished it without their help.

And yes, with that statement, I’m sure those with psychology degrees are muttering, “hmm, we must have a talk with her”.

Still, if you’re going to create a world where the supernatural and mortal co-exist, then you need to believe in what you’re crafting.

Although, just how different would it be?

Perhaps the grocery store would have a refrigerated section carrying synthetic blood? Butcher shops carrying ultra large cuts of meats for the shapeshifters who are on strict protein diets. Cute witchy boutiques that only magick users can enter where they can pick up those special spell ingredients and other supplies.

And what about houses and apartments that offer cells in case the shapeshifters don’t want to go out of town during the full moon. Windowless rooms or heavy-duty blackout draperies. Houses with two kitchens, so spells wouldn’t be brewed up in the same kitchen you cook a roast.

I like to call it the little things. Jazz lives in Santa Monica near the boardwalk where the Midway is run by Weres and her vampire lover, Nick, owns an art deco building that holds his Civil Defense shelter turned lair and office. She deals with mortals a lot since they seem to be the ones who are cursed and spends her evenings driving members of the preternatural community who don’t want to have a car. Not to mention a ghost haunts her classic T-Bird. There’s a little bit of everything in the world and it works because I try my best to make it fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.

Stasi and Blair live in a small mountain town they’ve inhabited off and on since the mid 1800s. The locals know they’re witches and aren’t bothered by it. Maybe because the witches do their magickal best to keep the mountain safe from developers. And they know about the Weres, but have no idea that the ghosts of their ancestors visit the town every Samhain. Maybe it’s a good thing that they ease into the idea of a little bit of everything existing up there.

The fun part of writing a paranormal world is that you basically make your own rules. I consider that you still have to make the world sound logical and believable. Let the magick and the normal world co-exist without any hitches. Although … some hitches could make it even more interesting and has my imagination thinking overtime on that.

What do you think? Can the two worlds blend well together or do you think they should be entirely separate?

~Linda

Answer Linda's above question in the comments section for your chance to win a copy of books 3 and 4 in this hexy series:

Wicked by Any Other Name and Hex in High Heels

1 winner will be chosen, open to residents of US and Canada, please leave contact info so you can be reached if you are chosen as the winner

Discussing Vampire Novels with Guest Author Christina Kelly

The first vampire novel I ever read was Look for me by Moonlight By Mary Downing Hahn. I liked it, but I didn’t love it. There were others, Midnight Predator by Amelia Atwater Rhodes and The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause but I never fell in love with any of those books or their heroes. I was searching for a specific kind of vampire book. I didn’t know what exactly I was looking for but I knew the others didn’t have it. Then one day while browsing the library I found it. The vampire book to end all vampire books: The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice.

I was/am obsessed with the vampire chronicles. I devoured them; I’ve reread them over and over again. It was a long time before I could even touch another vampire series without sizing the male lead up against Lestat. Anne Rice is my idol, completely utterly; I hope to write a novel like the Feast of all Saints or Belinda one day. That being said, I present to you my list of my top ten favorite vampire novels, not including any of the Vampire Chronicles. Let me explain, to me any vampire list that doesn’t include Interview with the Vampire, The Vampire Lestat and The Queen Of The Damned is a pretty shitty list. So instead of taking up three spots automatically I’ll just leave them off.

Let’s began!

10.) Dead Until Dark By Charlaine Harris

Ah, before Bill broke my heart and Eric seduced Sookie. I’ve read the other books in the series and I watch the show when I get a chance. My tip my hat to you Ms. Harris, you rock.

9.) Guilty Pleasures By Laurell K. Hamilton

Ah, remember the good old days?

8.) Hotel Transylvania by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

I still smile whenever I see this book. (Well the old black and red cover) I picked it up at a garage sale when I was in high school because of the cover. I loved it. Oh Le Comte de St Germain when will you come to my town? Haha. Sadly, I have not read any other books in this series, I just prefer to read and savor this one.

7.) Forever and The Night By Linda Lael Miller

This book is out of print I had to go to three different used bookstores before I found a copy (for only two dollars too!) this was one of the very first “paranormal romance” novels written. And I had just recently started reading paranormal romance; I had mostly stuck to the literary vampire side, when I discovered this book. But it was very enjoyable. It’s about The Vampire Aidan and how he falls in love with Neely, a woman who is supposed to save him (and what not) haha. This was also a series (of three books I believe) I haven’t read the others.

6.) The Black Castle by Les Daniels

When I first picked this up I had no intention of finishing it. At first glance it seemed rather boring, a historical novel about The Vampire Sebastian and how he died and was turned into a vampire. But I did finish it and what I liked most was how much of the Bram Stoker lore it kept, Sebastian could turn into a bat or into mist and what not. This novel is actually the first in a series. I haven’t read the others but black castle is a great if you like heavy gothic themes in your novels.

5.) Carmilla By Sheridan Le Fanu

I mostly liked this one because Carmilla was a female version of the dark seductive count that sweeps in and seduces the young maiden. I remember being surprised that it was in my school library.

4.) The Hunger by Whitley Strieber

I actually found out about this book because I adore David Bowie. He was in the film version. I watched the movie first (Bauhaus is in it!) and loved it so I read the book. It was amazing and so ambiguous. Great read.

3.) Lost Souls By Poppy Z. Brite

One of the best novels ever written period; vampire novel or not.

2.) Dracula By Bram Stoker
Need I explain?

1.) Sunshine By Robin McKinley

Oh Lord, I could go on and on and on and on and on about this book. I love love love Constantine. I love Rae. Everything about this book is PERFECT. I f I ever meet Robin McKinley I’ll bow down at her feet and ask her to bless me haha. Read it, it’s perfect, honestly. The ending always makes my heart soft, no matter how many times I’ve read this book.

What are some of your favorite vampire novels?

The first person to respond with their favorite vampire novel title will win one of each of my ebooks: Constant Craving and The Eternal Kiss



~Christina Kelly is the author of The Eternal Kiss (Now Available from Hearts on Fire Books) and Constant Craving (now Available from Cobblestone Press) for links and more about these titles please visit her at http://www.christinakelly.net/

The Ultimate Giveaway for Fans of Fangs and Fur: Vampires and Werewolves

Vampires by Joules Taylor

Dangerous yet seductive, the vampire plays with our heart as he preys with our soul, commanding respect and inspiring complete devotion. For anyone touched by the vampire's flight through recent movies, TV shows and novels, here is a feast of vampire stories and lore. Charting the development of the vampire from prince of pure evil to poignant anti-hero, the VAMPIRE HANDBOOK, is a comprehensive guide to the vampire's nocturnal realm, exploring the dark mysteries of his eternal allure, irresistible charm and vulnerability.

Werewolves by Jon Izzard

From ancient legend to pop-culture icon, from monster to antihero, here is a complete look at werewolves. Fans of the complex beasts will howl with pleasure at this passionate handbook incorporating legend, lore, trivia and art. Author Jon Izzard stalks both the fiction and the facts: transformations, inner rage, extra-human strength, silver bullets, mysterious curses, modern cures and more. With werewolves now haunting movie screens and literature the way they have haunted our nightmares for millennia, readers won't wait for the full moon to devour this fascinating volume.

GIVEAWAY

I have three sets of Vampires and Werewolves to give away, that's right 3 SETS!

3 winners will receive a copy of one of each, Vampires and Werewolves.

So for those of you who are undecided on which is your fave,

you don't have to choose.

Guest Blog and Giveaway with Amanda Grange Author of Mr Darcy, Vampyre

Hi and a big thank you to Roxanne for having me on her blog today!

Roxanne asked me: “How do you think Pride and Prejudice would have turned out if Mr. Darcy didn’t have to hide his true identity?” and I immediately thought, what a great question!

With the way I reimagined the world of Pride and Prejudice in Mr. Darcy, Vampyre, it would have been very different. Darcy isn’t the only character from Pride and Prejudice I recast as a vampyre, and the other vampyres would have then been open about their true identity as well. I’d better not say any more about the others because I don’t want to spoil it for people who haven’t read it yet! But three of the other major characters are also vamps…

A lot would still be the same, though. Darcy and Bingley are such firm friends in Pride and Prejudice that I think they would still be friends even if Bingley knew Darcy’s secret. So I think Darcy would have stayed at Netherfield with Bingley and still gone to the assembly where he first saw Lizzy.

Lizzy’s feelings towards him would have been similar to the ones in Pride and Prejudice, but for different reasons. She’s drawn to him in the original because he represents a challenge but she’s also repulsed because of his pride. If she knew he was a vampyre she would be drawn to him because of the vampyre glamour, but repulsed because of his true nature. I think that’s one of the things that attracted me to the idea of writing Mr. Darcy, Vampyre, a lot of the reactions in the book fit in so well with Darcy being a vampyre.

If there was general openness about vampyres in Pride and Prejudice, there would be a lot more trouble with the sinister vampyres who haunt Mr. Darcy, Vampyre. I introduced vampyres who feed off the emotions of others as well as bloodsuckers. They’re found in myth but not so often in literature. I took this one step further and gave them the power to distort reality in order to create the powerful emotions they need to survive.

The Netherfield ball might then have been something like this scene from Mr. Darcy, Vampyre, where Elizabeth is manipulated by one of the most powerful, ancient vampyres:


She turned towards him and had difficulty in making out his face. It seemed ageless: unlined and yet old, sympathetic and yet devilish. It floated before her in silent mockery, completely at odds with his words and behaviour, and she felt very strange.

‘Here,’ he said, offering her his arm.

She did not respond, only looking at him, and he pulled her hand through his arm himself, saying, ‘Let me escort you to a seat.’

As he touched her, she felt her will altering, flowing and merging with his. She moved with him to one of the window seats. She was enraptured by him. Her body was light and ethereal and her thoughts were unclear, as though her mind was filled with mist.

She was aware of a peculiar sensation as the room around her began to alter, distorting and changing like a wet portrait in the rain. The green wallpaper began to melt and run down the walls and a deep ochre ran down in great rivulets behind it and took its place. The curtains, too, began to change, their dark green velvet dropping away to be washed over with rivers of gold silk. Pictures were appearing and mirrors disappearing; beneath them the console tables were altering, their legs narrowing and their tops flowing with marble; the vases of flowers were being replaced with porcelain and ormolu clocks. The carpet was giving way to polished floorboards and the sound of unearthly laughter filled the air. He seized her in his arms and waltzed with her around the room, whispering to her in some unintelligible language.

‘I am not well,’ said Elizabeth, her heart beating strangely and her mind trying to hold on to reality.

‘No?’ he asked. ‘I think you are very well.’

Strange faces peered at her as the room was suddenly full of people, laughing and chattering and looking at her through their masks.

She put her hand to her head, feeling it throb, and then, through the mist, she heard something familiar. It was Darcy’s voice.

The gentleman was saying to him, ‘It is nothing, never fear, the lady is feeling unwell that is all, but I am caring for her. Please do not let us detain you.’

‘No,’ she wanted to say. ‘I don’t want you to care for me, I want to be with my husband.’

But nothing came out.

She turned beseeching eyes to Darcy and she saw him as if from a great distance, through a distorting glass, but his words were firm and clear.

‘She has no taste for your company,’ he said.

‘No?’ said the gentleman. ‘But I have a taste for her.’

Hers, thought Elizabeth. He should have said hers.

© Amanda Grange, Sourcebooks Landmark, 2009

I’m sure Elizabeth and Darcy would still have ended up together, though, even if the truth had been revealed, because something about them as a couple is so right.

Thanks again for having me here. I hope you like Mr. Darcy, Vampyre and I hope you all have a great Halloween!

Mr. Darcy, Vampyre—In stores NOW!


About the Author

Amanda Grange is a bestselling author specializing in creative interpretations of classic novels and historic events, including Jane Austen's novels and the Titanic shipwreck. Her Jane Austen sequel Mr. Darcy’s Diary is a bestseller in the US and the UK. She lives in England. For more information on Amanda and her books, please visit http://amandagrange.com/. For more information on Mr. Darcy, Vampyre, please visit Amanda’s blog and the Sourcebooks Spotlight Page.

Interested in reading an excerpt? Follow us on Twitter the week of Halloween!


Want to win a copy of Mr. Darcy, Vampyre ?

Then leave a comment on this post.

This contest is open to residents of the US and Canada Shipping

Make sure to include email address so you can be contacted if you are chosen.

Monday Musings October 19th

So I am starting the week with a new do.

My hair is about 7 inches shorter with lots of layers and about three shades redder than normal. At first I wasn't sure I liked it. Now that I've gotten used to it...I LOVE IT. It has lots of body and bounce. And everyone says it makes me look younger. What I love is how it feels, so light and I'm not getting tangled and wrapped up in it every time I roll over in my sleep or try to get comfortable.

I was busy writing all weekend, working on my freelance stuff, book reviews and some upcoming holiday guides. I didn't watch much TV or really do anything exciting...bummer. I had planned to take my daughter costume shopping and maybe go to an orchard instead I worked.

I did watch Vampire Diaries Thursday night. Vicki just won't die will she? My husband keeps wishing she'd just die and get it over with (he doesn't like her). I was too busy drooling over Damon's abs as he danced around drunkenly to care about Vicki. Visions of those abs are still dancing in my head. :-)

It was a pretty nice weekend here in Michigan so between writing projects I worked at clearing out my garden. I still have more to do, I may or may not get to it before snow covers everything. I really wish I would have went to an orchard but at least we went last weekend on a hayride and did the whole pumpkin picking thing.

This week I am continuing on with my Eternal Desire virtual book tour this week, so far it's been pretty successful except for a few snafus where posts didn't get posted or were posted late but it's all good, other than that everything is going great.

Today I am guest blogging and holding a giveaway at Sci Fi Guy, I'll be giving away a free pdf download of Eternal Desire along with a Fang-tastic Books desk set which includes a mousepad, notepad and pen (pictured in this blog post)

October 20 I’ll be guest blogging with Angie Fox at Something Wicked

October 21 Guest Blog at http://www.valeriejpatterson.wordpress.com/

October 22 Interview with me at Shapeshifter Seductions

October 23 Interview with me at Vampire Phile

I hope all of my wonderful friends and fans (that would be you guys reading this post :-) will continue to drop by my tour stops and leave comments letting me know you were there.

I appreciate all the kind words and support that all of you offer. I think it is wonderful how friendly and supportive this community of book lovers is. I know everyone hits most of the same blogs and websites and forums and even some chat areas and everyone is always so nice and has kind words to say.

Outsiders would probably never expect that from a bunch of people who love to read about "monsters" and sex (erotica). LOL.




So this week at Fang-tastic Books Amanda Grange will be here on Tuesday the 20th and there will be a giveaway.

On Wednesday the 21st there will be a huge giveaway involving Vampires and Werewolves.

On Thursday author Christina Kelly is dropping by for a guest blog

And on Friday October 23 Linda Wisdom is going to be here

Lots of fun and giveaways this week so drop by often...like every day!

Also make sure to enter the Hachette Book Giveaway, it is open until October 30

Next week I have plenty of authors and giveaways lined up too, it all leads right up to my Halloween Giveaway which I will post on Friday October 30th.

And super good news, Eternal Desire is now available in print at Amazon.com! Woo Hoo!

By the way I have a free Halloween story up at my other site, Roxanne's Realm. Drop by and read it, if you do leave me a comment so I know you were there. It is a simple story nothing too erotic. I guess I would rate it as PG-13.

www.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com

5 Spine Tingling Books Up for Grabs from Hachette

Here's a new giveaway for you.

Hachette is offering 3 lucky winners a set of 5 spine chilling books.

So each of the three lucky winners will receive a set of these 5 books.

The Heretic's Daughter By Kathleen Kent

Sins of the Flesh By Caridad Piñeiro

When Ghosts Speak By Mary Ann Winkowski




BoneMan's Daughters By Ted Dekker

The Historian By Elizabeth Kostova

Plus out of all the Hachette Book Giveaways 20 Random winners will be selected to receive a galley of Ted Dekker’s next book, THE BRIDE COLLECTOR

To be entered into this contest please leave a comment on this post with your email address so you can be contacted if you are chosen as a winner.

Want more than one entry?

Get extra entries for tweeting about this on Twitter, posting to your blog or Facebook page, for follower of this blog and for signing up for my yahoo group. In the comments section please let me know if you posted a link or tweeted about this contest, also let me know if you are a follower and subscriber. Then I can add in your extra entries when I choose winners.

This contest is open until October 30 when I will choose 3 winners.

Open to residents of the US and Canada.

Guest Blog and Giveaway with Mary Donev

Ghost Hunter Books
by Mary Donev

Thanks to Roxanne at Fang-tastic Books for inviting me as a guest! I’m one of the authors of the Ghost Hunter tween series of books.

The roots of kids’ enjoyment of ghost stories are found in the earliest days of life. Just look at the surprise and then delight of a small child playing peek-a-boo. (For an instant a pick-me-up at any time, just search ‘peek-a-boo baby laughing’ on Youtube!)

You may have fond memories of being around a campfire with darting shadows behind you, hearing ghost stories that made you jump and then giggle at your own silliness because, after all, it was “just a story.”

No childhood campfire for me. What made me go “aaahhh!!!” when I was about 10 years old was a book of ghost tales from the library. The title is long-forgotten, but the experience isn’t. Since I had an upstairs bedroom to myself, there was no need for an under-the-covers flashlight. Like the proverbial snake and the mongoose, I was terrified at every page turn, yet I couldn’t stop myself from reading story after story. Having a flashlight sure would have saved on the electric bill because, even after I finished the book, I couldn’t bring myself to turn off the light!

What’s the attraction of a ghost story? Maybe it’s the heart-pounding adrenaline rush you feel. Maybe it’s the thrill of being sucked into the account, becoming so engrossed that you’re one with the character, terrified and in danger… while at the same time you know that you’re really safe, it’s only a story.

Even in our modern age, children still love tales of ghosts. It’s one thing for them just to read about ghosts… imagine books where kids can actually SEE the ghosts in action!

Ghost Hunter titles use the new Interactive Book-Webscene (IBW) storytelling process to make ghosts come alive for tweens.

Here’s what makes IBW books different. The IBW infuses print text with multimedia components called webscenes. Don’t confuse the IBW with e-books or downloads. The way an IBW story works is that you read a chapter of the book, at the end of which you find a weblink. When you go online you discover an animation (and perhaps additional multimedia components) that’s an integral part of the storytelling and actually advances the plot. After you view the webscene, you return to read another chapter, find another weblink, and so on.

With print as well as visual and, at times, auditory stimulation, the IBW takes being involved in the story to a whole new level!

Ghost Hunter tales feature Cori Denton, a girl who’s just a little different from other kids her age – she sees ghosts from history. As she globe-trots with her archeologist mom to various sites, she runs into a lot of them!

What do you do about a ghost who’s stuck in this world and can’t seem to crossover, even after hundreds of years? You solve the mystery of what’s holding them here and help them move on. Of course, not EVERY ghost you encounter is friendly, and some are downright dangerous.

Take, for instance, The Ghost Hunter and the Ghost of the Amazon Warrior…

Cori’s just minding her own business, enjoying a quiet day of sun and surf alone on a Malibu beach. Quiet and alone, that is, until a ready-for-battle warrior ghost shows up aiming a blowgun directly at her. Cori streams a video image of the female ghost to Marta Santiago, her best friend and “virtual sidekick” who lives in Texas. Kids get to see the same image Marta “sees” when they go to the webscene hyperlink given at the end of the chapter.

It seems like a simple task for Cori and Marta to help the ghost work through her “issues,” if only they had a clue who the spirit is and where in history she’s from! The up-side is that the who and where become clearer when conquistador ghosts show up from the same time period in history. The down-side is that they TOO want to kill Cori!

Each chapter of the book ends with a cliffhanger that leads to an online webscene. You can experience one of the webscenes kids view from The Ghost Hunter and the Ghost of the Amazon Warrior at www.TheGhostHunterOnline.com/webscene2-9

Ghost Hunter books are just one of several IBW series. Kids who may be too young for ghost stories can still enjoy webscenes in books such as the KA Reader beginning reader series. Fang-tastic kids, of course, will love KA Reader – The Fang Gang, a story of a group of bats driven from their comfortable home by a very noisy neighbor. To take a peak at a webscene from this fun story, go to www.KA-Reader.com/4-1

Intrigued by the idea of IBW stories that come to life in a different way than mere old-fashioned print books? You can order Ghost Hunter titles, as well as KA Readers and other IBW series for kids at http://www.ibw-books.com/

If you have questions about Ghost Hunter books or the IBW, you can reach me by email at MaryDonev@IBW-Books.com.

Again, thank you Roxanne and Fang-tastic Books for allowing me to be part of your Halloween event!

Hey, want to win a copy of The Ghost Hunter and the Ghost of the Amazon Warrior for a Fang-tastic child in your life? Just go to http://www.ibw-books.com/, and then write something you think is cool about any of the IBW series available there.

Do you think IBW books will engage kids? Tell us why! Post your comments below. The winner will be chosen by random draw. Contest ends November 1.

A Review of Hex in High Heels by Linda Wisdom

.5

Four and 1/2 half Fangs for Hex in High Heels by Linda Wisdom

Book Blurb:

In this sexy, funny paranormal romance by bestselling author Linda Wisdom, it's all beautiful witch Blair Fitzpatrick can do to keep a lid on her talent for revenge spells, but things are about to get a lot more complicated...

Blair loves running her vintage shop and hanging out with witchy friends Stasi and Jazz. She's forever had a crush on hunky carpenter Jake Harrison, whose Were nature (he's a Border collie) makes him loyal, lovable, and fierce when need be. Just as sparks are beginning to fly, Blair is served with a big surprise when Jake's mother shows up along with his pack leader, who threatens to make Jake heel! When the alpha does the unthinkable, Blair is pushed over the edge. No one messes with her boyfriend-to-be, even if he does shed on the furniture!

Linda Wisdom never disappoints. In her latest hexy installment about the 13 banned witches the story focuses on Blair, revenge witch extraordinaire, who operates the little vintage shop next to Stasi's lingerie store.

At the end of the last book Blair had just learned that her furry little Border Collie friend was actually Jake the town handyman that she had been lusting after for ages.

Now that she knows his secret and it's a pretty well known fact that the two are interested in each other she wants to get closer to him, but he keeps pulling away.

But when Jake's old pack, including mommy dearest and his brother, show up in town Jake has to share his secrets and let Blair in to keep the town safe.

Mean wolves, wicked magick and crazy elves abound in this wild magickal romp. Jazz even makes an appearance to drop off Fluff and Puff, who end up on Blair's ankle throughout the story and Horace the gargoyle finally gets to cause some mischief. Even ghostly Irma has her part in the story because she too decides to stay with Blair and Stasi while Jazz goes out of town. So all the cast of favorites make their way into this story.

Hex in High Heels is probably my favorite book in Wisdom's series so far. Sure, no vampires, but instead there's a sexy were that's my type of guy, even if he does turn furry ever now and then. I really love the wild and wicked Blair who doesn't back down from anyone and who is always ready to cast a revenge spell on anyone who does her or hers wrong.

Check out Hex in High Heels you are going to love it.